Prediction: Ukraine vs Germany

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 6/5

Bookmaker: Unibet

Desperate to pick up their first victory of 2020 this weekend, Germany will turn their attention back to Nations League duties when they make the trip to Ukraine on Saturday night.

Ukraine

Starting with the hosts, while Ukraine might have opened up this year’s Nations League campaign with a 2-1 win against Switzerland on home soil last month, Andriy Shevchenko’s men have struggled to keep up that momentum. Hit with what turned out to be a thumping 7-1 defeat when they made the trip to defending world champions France for a friendly contest in midweek, the Yellows have now been hit with thumping back-to-back defeats. Also last seen on Nations League duties leaving Spain on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline, the former AC Milan icon will undoubtedly be glad to make a return to home soil this weekend. While Ukraine might be continuing to show some worrying issues at the back since opening the New Year, Saturday’s hosts did storm their way to EURO 2021 in stunning fashion and their form in Kyiv played a huge part in that charge. Eventually topping Group B and holding a three-point buffer over defending champions Portugal, it should be noted that Ukraine are unbeaten in each of their last eight contests on home soil, winning seven of those appearances.

Team News

After withdrawing due to injury last week, Ukraine will be without the likes of Mykola Matviyenko, Viktor Kovalenko, Marlos and Junior Moraes and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Germany

As for the visitors, while Germany’s free-scoring run of form at the end of 2019 might have had many starting to believe that the former world champions had turned a real corner, Joachim Löw’s men do find themselves in the midst of what has been an extended blip. Opening up this year’s Nations League campaign by throwing away the lead in injury-time and having to settle for a 1-1 draw against Spain on home soil last month, Saturday’s guests had to settle for an identical scoreline when they made the trip to Switzerland on September 6th. Still showing some of the defensive issues that so famously haunted them out in Russia at the 2018 World Cup finals, an altered Germany once again showed them issues earlier in the week. Throwing away the lead in the dying embers, Die Mannschaft had to settle for a dramatic 3-3 draw against Turkey in Koln on Wednesday night. However, with a partial reputation for their success on their travels, it should be noted that Germany are unbeaten in their last five contests on foreign soil, collecting four wins on that run.

Team News

Making a string of alterations for their 3-3 draw against Turkey earlier in the week, the likes of Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Joshua Kimmich, Timo Werner and Serge Gnabry are all set for a recall this weekend.

Key Factors to Consider

• Germany have drawn each of their last three straight matchups across all competitions.
• Each of Die Mannschaft’s last four contests have finished with both teams finding the net.
• Ukraine are unbeaten in each of their last eight contests on home soil, winning seven of those appearances.
• However, Saturday’s hosts have conceded 11 goals in back-to-back defeats.
• Three of the last four meetings between Ukraine and Germany have finished with both teams finding the net.

Conclusion

While Germany might open Saturday’s meeting in Kyiv as a landslide pick with the bookmakers after Ukraine’s latest defensive issues in midweek, we could be in for another lively meeting this weekend. Once again throwing away the lead in dramatic fashion and having to settle for a 3-3 draw against Turkey in a friendly showdown on home soil, the former world champions have now drawn each of their last three appearances on the spin and have continued to show some worrying issues at the back. With Ukraine glad to make a return to home soil after shipping 11 goals in their back-to-back defeats on the road, including that 7-1 drumming against France earlier in the week, we’re expecting a string of chances on Saturday night. In a battle between two sides enduring a defensive crisis, we’re backing both teams to find the net in Kyiv.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 6/5

Bookmaker: Unibet